Data brokers disciplined over consumer protections

So imagine if that background check provided to your potential employer wrongly identified you as a possible sex offender. That's what the Federal Trade Commission says happened in a case it's settling with InfoTrack Information Services of Deerfield, Ill. The company provides employment background screening services.

The commission said Wednesday that InfoTrack gave inaccurate information suggesting that job applicants potentially were registered sex offenders.

In many instances, the FTC said, InfoTrack would search the National Sex Offender Registry with a first and last name, say for example "John Smith." But often, there wasn't a birth date — so in its report to the employer, InfoTrack would turn over all John Smiths in the database as "possible matches."

The civil penalty against InfoTrack and its owner, Steve Kaplan, calls for a $1 million payment. But everything except $60,000 is suspended for inability to pay.

A call to the company seeking comment Wednesday was not immediately returned.